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Patented Apr. 26, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE H. A. BRASSEBT & COM- OF ILLINOIS Application filed October 5, 1927, Serial 224,140. Renewed April 14, 1930.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in blast furnaces and more particularly to that type of blast furnaces that are used in the manufacture of iron. One of the objects of my invention'is the provision of new and improved means for feeding the fuel to this type of furnace.

With the type. of feeder in use on many blast furnaces today, thefuel is not evenly distributed while being fed to the furnace, i. e., the feeding is such that the larger pieces of coke and ore will drop down in the centre of the furnace while the finer and smaller pieces are carried to the sides. As the draft through these furnaces is centralized the larger pieces of fuel burn quickly due to the ready passage of the draft thru themrwhile the finer and smaller pieces are not thoroughly consumed.

As. stated heretofore, it is an object of my invention to provide a novel type of feeder whereby the larger and smaller piecesof fuel will be equally distributed while being fed to the furnace to produce a more even burning of the fuel in the furnace. i With the above and other objects 1n v1ew the invention consists in thenovel features of' construction, the combination and arrange ment of parts hereinafter more fully described, pointed out in the claims and shown inthe accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View with parts shown in elevation.

Figure 2 is a sectional View on the line,

2-2 of Figure 1. V

Figure 3 is a side elevation on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail enlarged view of the operating shaft and its connection with the operating mechanism,parts thereof being shown in elevation;

Figure 51s a sectional view on the hne 5'-5 of Figure 4.

. Figure 6.is a sectional viewof the line 6- 6 ofFigure 1, and V Figure 7 is a sectional view on of Figure 1; V

In the construction of blast furnaces of this type, the furnace usually includes a conthe line 7-7 crete or similar body 1 reinforced by superimposed plates 2 of ring like or similar form. The body 1 in the present illustration is circular in form with a truncated cone shaped top'3, the central portion of which is formed with a fuel receiving opening 4:. The ex terior of the body is provided with a metal casing 5 to assist in retaining the heat within the furnace.

As shown in Figure 1 the fuel is indicated at 6 and arranged within the opening 4 is a hopper 7 which delivers the fuel to the furnace. Arranged above the hopper 7 in aninverted position is a second hopper8, each hopper having an annular flange 9 resting upon an annular supporting member 10 which isfixed to the casing part surrounding the top 3. Above the hoppers 7 and 8 and resting on the hopper 8 is'a cylindrical chamber 11 for receiving the fuel to be fed through hoppers 7 and 8 to the furnace. The upper open end of hopper 8 is formed with an annular flange 12 upon which rests an annular flange 13 on the lower end of chamber 11 to form a substantial supportfor the same.

A conical valve member 14 normally closes the lower end of chamber 11 and extending upwardly from this valve is a tube 15 which supports at its upper end a yoke 16 of U- shaped form. Pivotally mounted upon a rod 17 are the arms 18 having one endpivotally connected to the upper; ends of the yoke" 16 while the otherends are pivotally connected to any type ofoperating 'mechanism whereby the yoke 16, tube 15 and valve 145 may be raised at the will of the operator and retained in a closed position, as shown. in Figure 1.

Arranged in' and normally closingthe lower open end of thehopper 7 is the main conical feed valve 19 which controls the feeding of the fuel tothe body ofthe furnace. This valve 19 is connected by means of. a univer-- sal joint 20 to a rod 21 that extends up through the tube 15 andhas its upper end disposed between the arms of the yoke 16. The

upper end of the rod 21 isconnected to an, arm 22 which in turn. ispivotally connected with a rocker arm 23 011 the rod 17, said rocker arm being connected with any type of operating mechanism or can be equipped April 3 P. ZIMMERMANN ,855,463

BLAST FURNACE BELL CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 16, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 1932- P. ZIMMERMANN 1,855,463

BLAST FURNACE BELL CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 16, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 26, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PAUL ZIMMERMANN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO H. A. BRASSERT AND COM- PANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS BLAST FURNACE BELL CONSTRUCTION Application filed February 16, 1929. Serial No. 340,981.

This invention relates to improvements in blast furnace construction and generally to improvements in the design of the feeding means for admitting and distributing the charge to the furnace.

In the usual construction of blast furnaces, a double conical hopper is mounted at the top of the furnace and a pair of conical bell valves are arranged to be vertically movable to control the openings. The upper small valve opens a plurality of times while the large bell is closed to admit each skip load of material. When the hopper is filled with the desired charge, "the small bell valve is held in a closed position while the large bell valve is opened to allow the received charge to flow into the furnace. In feeding mixed materials of varying size it has been found that the large particles will roll inward and congregate at the center of the furnace, while the smaller finely divided material will be lodged around the sides of the furnace. This is objectionable since the draft in the furnace will seek the easiest path and thus flow upward through the center of the furnace and the finely divided material around the sides of the furnace will not be completely consumed.

In some prior constructions thelarge bell valve has been provided with openings and deflecting plates'in order to direct some of the finer material to the center of the furnace. This construction has been used with avalve which rotates upon its downward stroke, therefore the even distribution could not be controlled and effectively obtained.

It is the purpose of my invention to so construct the charging valve in a blast furnace that there is a more even distribution of material over the total area of the furnace, and, therefore, since the concentration of one size of material is prevented there is a more even draft upward through the furnace and therefore more efficient operation.

In carrying out the general purpose of my invention I provide a conical valve having a plurality of radial openings and having deflector plates mounted'a'cro'ss the radial openings so arranged that the material will be distributed at a plurality of spaced points.

I further attain my purpose and differentiate from prior constructions by extending the deflector plates above the upper surface of the valve.

It is further an'important feature of my invention that the valve is rotated upon its upward stroke only, and the degree of rotation is so determined relative to the design of the distributing-portion of the valve that each successive operation of the valve will discharge the material over different areas than the previous operation thereby a plurality of operations will serve to completely cover and evenly distribute the material over the entire furnace area. i

Further and additional objects of my invention will be more readily apparent as the preferred embodiment is fully described in connection with the attached drawings in which t Figure 1 is a vertical elevation partly in section of the top of afurnace showing the feeding and operating means.

*Figure' 2 is a detail sectional elevation.

showing the lower valve and a portion of the hopper, the view being taken at right angles to that of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a bottom view of the lower valve.

Figure 4 is a detail View partially in section of the operating mechanism for causing the rotation of the valve.

Figure 5 is an elevation from the right hand side of Figure 4.

Figure .6 is a detail plan view showing the lower valve. 7 I

Figure 1 illustrates the usual construction of the upper end of a blast furnace in which 1 is a reenforced wallof a cylindrical furnace, 2 is an inwardly extending conical top, 3

is a cylindrical member extending upward from the upper end of the conical top 2 and providing a seat for an inverted conical hopper 4 having a flange 5. The inverted conical hopper 4 has an opening 6 which is normally closed by the large bell valve 7 and through which material is discharged to the furnace upon the opening of the large bell valve 7. Seated upon the flange 5 of the inverted conical hopper lis a flange 8 to which is joined an inwardly extending conical member 9 formed at its upper end with a seat 10 for the vertical cylindrical feeding pipe 11. Feeding cylinder 11 has an opening 12 in its lower end which is normally closed by a small bell valve 13. Small bell valve 13 is oined to an upwardly extending tube 14 connected to a cross bar 15 having secured thereto operating rods 16. The large bell valve 7 is formed with pivot ears 17 through which extends a pivot pin 19 forming a pivot connection for an upwardly extending rod 19. The upper end of the rod member 19 is formed with a bearing flange 2O resting upon rollers 21 which are supported in a housing 22. The housing 22 is connected to rods 23 which are joined to an operating rod 24.

It will be apparent from the construction thus far described that the small bell valve 13 may be opened, by lowering movement of the operating rod 16. in order to admit each skip load of material into the hopper 4. When suflicient material has been accumulated in the hopper 4, the large bell valve 7 is lowered while the small bell valve 13 is held closed in order to allow the charge to flow into the furnace. It will be noted that the rod 19 which is connected to the large bell valve 7 is free to rotate with respect to the means for raising and lowering it. I have found that instead of rotating the valve during its downward stroke. it is more desirable to rotate the valve through a small angle upon its upward stroke. In order to cause such a rotation I may use the construction which is shown in Figures 1. 4 and 5.

I show a collar 25 secured to the rod 19 from which extend a plurality of arms 26. The arms 26 are formed or provided with cylindrical rollers 27 which may be secured by nuts 28 so as to be free to rotate.

Concentric shafts 29 are arranged transverse to the vertical rod 19 and provide supports for pivoted rockers or hell cranks 30. The bell cranks 30 have counterweights 31 on one end which normally tend to move the rockers until the counterweights are prevented from movement by the fixed I-beams 32. The opposite ends of the rockers 30 are provi ded with downwardly extending deflecting arms which cooperate with the rollers 27. thus :upon downward movement of the rod 19 together with the arms 26 and rollers 27, the contact between the rollers 27 and deflecting arms 33 will pivot the rockers about the shafts 29 and not cause any rotation of the rod 19 andvalve 7 but upon upward movement the contact of the rollers 27 with the deflecting arms 33 cannot cause movement of the rockers 30 since they are prevented from movement by the engagement between the counterweight 31 and the I-beams 32, there- .fore. the rod 19. together with the valve 7 will be rotated through a small angle.

I shall now describe the improved construcweb 35.

tion of the lower bell valve. It is my purpose to provide a valve whereby each charge will be distributed over the entire area of the furnace by concentration at a plurality of spaced points and to so construct the valve that after a partial rotation during its upward stroke the next opening of the valve will cause the next charge to be distributed to points between the spots where the previous charge was concentrated. In my preferred embodi ment I discharge four portions of the charge over the outside periphery of the valve and adjacent the walls of the furnace. Two more portions are directed vertically downward by vertical deflector plates extending across two of the radial openings. The remaining portions of the charge are directed inward by the inclined deflecting plates towards the center of the furnace. The valve is then rotated through an angle of 45 degrees and the next charge distributed. It is apparent that two operations of the valve will cause the material in the furnace to be distributed in the uniform manner diagrammatically shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. This even distribution cannot be secured if the valve is rotated while the material is being discharged.

I construct my valve by providing the main portion 34 of the conical valve with a cylindrical inwardly extending inclined web 35 forming an attachment portion for a plurality of extension plates 36. In this embodiment I show four plates 36. The plates 36 are in the shape of flared teeth and form extensions of the conical surface of the main portion 34 of the valve 7 and are formed with integral webs 37 adapted to be riveted to the The plates 36 are symmetrically spaced so as to leave a plurality of radial openings 38. Across two of these radial openings 38 are mounted vertical deflecting plates 39 formed concentric relative to the center of the valve and having attachment brackets 40 adapted to be riveted to the integral webs 41 of the plates 36. The remaining openings 38 are divided by deflecting plates 42 which have attaching brackets 43 formed integral therewith adapted to be riveted to the integral webs 41 of the plates 36. It will be noted, however, that the deflecting plates 42 are inwardly inclined towards the center of the furnace. The deflecting plates 39 and 42 both extend slightly above the conical surface of the upper portion of the valve 34 and the plates 36 and serve to catch a substantial portion of the material flowing over the conical surface.

The material loaded into the hopper consists of a mixture of particles varying in size from fine dust to large lumps and in the ordinary methods of feeding and distribution by a conical valve, the material flows evenly around the peripheral edge of the valve but builds up within the furnace to form an inverted cone. Therefore, the large lumps will 9 

